Odisha Tourism signed a MoU with Aditya Birla Group for setting up of Gandhi Peace Centre at Khandagiri

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Tourism has signed a MoU with Aditya Birla Group on 24.05.2017 for Operation and Management of Interpretation Centre at Khandagiri-Udayagiri. The centre will be called Eternal Gandhi Peace Centre – A Joint Initiative of Government of Odisha & Aditya Birla Group. The said Interpretation Centre at Khandagiri-Udayagiri was built on a land area on Ac.5.00 in 2013.

The objective of signing of MoU is to develop this project in a sustainable way to bring inclusive economic growth for the State. The project is going to be operationalized on the theme of Eternal Gandhi Interactive Museum. The aim of setting up of this museum is to impart knowledge on cardinal principle of Truth & Non-Violence (Ahimsa) of Mahatma Gandhi including Jainism. The project involves installation of a life size statue of Mahatma Gandhi with interactive multimedia show relating to the teaching of Mahatma Gandhi and depiction of the tenets of Jainism. The MoU will remain valid for 15 years.

The Centre will attract huge number of domestic and international visitors to this historic site of Khandagiri-Udayagiri and can witness the gospel of truth and non-violence. It will extensively propagate Gandhian Principle and Jain Ideology, said Ashok chandra Panda, Minister, Tourism & Culture. Attending the programme Sri Panda said that Govt of Odisha is planning to develop Gandhi Circuits including all the places visited by Mahatma during his seven time visit to the state on different occasions.

The MoU was signed by Mr. Bharat Parekh on behalf of Aditya Birla Group while Sri Nitin Bhanudas Jawale, Director, Tourism on behalf of Government of Odisha in presence of Hon’ble Minister, Sri R. Balkrishnan, Development Commissioner, Smt Arti Ahuja, Principal Secretary, Tourism Department and other senior officers. Sri Parekh highlighted on the project saying that the regular talks on Ahinsa and playing of Gandhi Bhajans by distinguished artists will be undertaken in a phased manner.